While the official start of summer won’t clock in until June, everyone knows true Cleveland summer starts when the shorts come out and the kids are home from school. The arrival of long evenings of sun and patio temps is upon us, and with that the feeling of eternal hours left to be filled with friends, family and all that Cleveland has to offer.
The problem right now is that your wallet is as empty as those awaiting hours. Inflation is inflating. Gas prices are skyrocketing. Flights are more expensive than you remember the last time you took a vacation. Rent is climbing. Your grocery tab has you considering a diet for reasons other than your winter-induced girth. And if you’re ever going to buy a house, you’re going to need every penny so you too can offer $50,000 over asking in cash just for the pleasure of once again losing out.
It can feel like the world has conspired to financially fuck you just as the weather is nice enough to venture off the couch for the first time since 2021.
Thankfully, there’s plenty to do in Cleveland that won’t have you taking a second job or skimping on other expenses. For the budget-minded and the poor bastards of Cleveland, there’s an almost endless availability of free and super-cheap things to do this season, from arts and culture to dance parties and nature. Drink it in, get out there, and save those precious expendable dollars for a rainy day, because it sure sounds like there are more than a few around the bend
Hit Up Local Art Galleries
While the Cleveland Museum of Art and the big hitters in University Circle get the most attention, Cleveland’s filthy with small art galleries catering to every taste that offer free exhibitions all year long. Whether you’re dipping into Third Fridays at 78th Street Studios or bopping around to one of the dozens of eclectic galleries scattered east to west, summer’s a great time to take in some local and regional art. Check Scene’s ongoing arts coverage, our events database, and CAN Journal for suggestions. Credit: Scene ArchivesSee a Movie at a Drive-In Theater, because Aut-O-Rama is open and ready for your business
Photo via Scene Archives Credit: Scene ArchivesGo To The Beach
Hit the beach and better than that, hit all of them. Edgewater is a gem, Euclid Beach is beckoning, Huntington Beach is pristine, and Mentor Headlands is just a short drive out east with gorgeous views and the added bonus of putting you close to Scooter’s Dog House and all the glorious footlong dogs and pounds of golden fries you could dream of and the best tacos in Northeast Ohio at La Casita in Painesville. Looking for something outside of the usual rotation? Refer to Scene’s handy guide to 19 low-key beaches within driving distance of Cleveland at clevescene.com/beaches. Credit: Scene ArchivesGet Lost at the Cleveland Museum of Art
One of the best art museums around sits on East Boulevard just waiting for you. The world-renowned collection spans continents and eras, from Italian Renaissance to modern, from ancient Greece to African, and more. Obviously, always more. Spend a day getting lost.
Photo via Scene Archives Credit: Scene archivesMetroparks Sounds of Summer Series
Edgewater and Euclid Beach Live haven’t made their post-pandemic return, but the Metroparks this year will bring a free traveling concert series across the region to some of the most iconic spots in the emerald necklace. Catch Billy Likes Soda on May 27 at the U.S. Coast Guard Station, The Level Up Band on June 24 at the Wildwood Marina, The Mourning Glory on July 29 at the Stinchcomb Memorial, Carlos Jones and the P.L.U.S. Band on August 26 at Huntington Beach and The Breakfast Club on September 30 at Squire’s Castle. Credit: Scene ArchivesHit Up A Festival
Cleveland loves a festival, and once again, there are about 578 to enjoy this year. While many charge for admission, many more are absolutely free to enter (people watching is always the best part anyway), and many of those are totally free (Rooms to Let, Juneteenth Freedom Fest, Pride in the CLE). Ohiofestivals.net has a pretty comprehensive list of all the Northeast Ohio gatherings on the calendar for 2022. Credit: Scene ArchivesGo Kayaking
You probably don’t own one of those boats docked on Lake Erie, but you can still get yourself out on the water this summer. Strike that. You should still get out on the water this summer. Kayak rentals are the best way to do that. And tandems are the best value, plus you get to share the experience with a pal and defray the cost. Most tandems go for $25 or $30/hour at 41 North in Lakewood in the Rocky River Reservation, Great Lakes Watersports in the Flats, Chagrin River Kayak and Rentals in Eastlake, or at Put-in-Bay Watercraft out in the islands. Credit: Scene ArchivesSwim in Nelson Ledges Quarry Park
About 40 miles East from Cleveland on 422, you’ll find Nelson Ledges Quarry Park, where you’ll find one of the best campgrounds and natural sights around. Whether you just went to go camping, jump off the quarry or see some live music, you should visit this place. In August alone, there are three music festivals at the park.
Photo via @NelsonLedgesQuarryPark/Instagram Credit: Scene ArchivesSports, Recreation and The Outdoors
There are certainly parts of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Cleveland Metroparks you haven’t yet explored, and this summer’s as good a time as any to expand your local nature travels. Beyond that, the Metroparks offer plenty of other ways to get a deeper understanding of nature, including free guided bird watching walks, tours of local reservations, kayaking lessons, nature hikes and family-friendly events. Make use of the expertise you’re already paying for. Find more information all summer long at clevelandmetroparks.com/parks/calendar Credit:@CleveMetroParks/InstagramFree First Saturdays at MOCA Cleveland
11400 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
Cleveland’s Museum of Contemporary Art is free to all on the first Saturday of every month. With ever-changing exhibits, the museum is worth visiting multiple times a year on these Saturdays, as you can always see something you’ve never seen before.
Photo via Scene Archives Credit: Scene ArchivesCleveland Stories Dinner Party
Dig into Cleveland’s history with Cleveland Stories Dinner Party, a semi-weekly series presented by the Cleveland History Center at the Music Box Supper Club featuring guest speakers on slices of the city’s past, from sports to music to industry. Next on the schedule is ‘The Irish Invade Cleveland & Transform It’ with historian and author Margaret Lynch on June 30. Admission is free; a three-course dinner will run you $20. Credit: Scene ArchivesVisit the Natural History Museum
You know what’s better than seeing some dinosaur bones? Seeing some dinosaur bones when you’re high as a kite. Credit: Scene ArchivesKayak down the river that’s been filled with 50 tiki boat barges filled with partygoers Credit: Scene ArchivesCredit: Scene ArchivesTake A Hike!
Every week mid-May through mid-September you can explore downtown through Take A Hike! A program of the Historic Gateway Neighborhood Corporation, Take A Hike offers free guided walking tours of neighborhoods east to west, giving you the lowdown on the things you never knew you didn’t know. Get out in the sun, get those legs moving, and learn about the city you call home. Find a schedule at clevelandgatewaydistrict.com Credit: Scene Archives18-Karat Gold Party at Twist Social Club
11633 Clifton Blvd., Cleveland
If you’re looking for a place to dance the night away, Twist Social Club in Edgewater is the spot for you. If you have anything gold, wear it, and be prepared to dance to DJ Mike Filly’s tunes throughout the night. There’s no cover.
Photo by Emmanuel Wallace Credit: Scene ArchivesWade Oval Wednesdays
Cleveland’s marquee free weekly community outdoor concert series, Wade Oval Wednesdays, is back this year with mid-week concerts, food and sunshine starting June 15 and running through August 17. Grab some friends, a lawn chair, and enjoy a hump-day break sure to inject some relaxing fun into your frenzied schedule. Credit: Scene ArchivesGo To The Zoo
The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is free to all Cuyahoga County and Hinckley Township residents every Monday (with the exception of Monday holidays between Memorial Day and Labor Day), and there are few better free summer experiences than traipsing around the zoo and checking out enough animals that even Noah would be jealous. Credit: Scene ArchivesBicycling
Grab your bicycle and join hundreds of your closest pals for Slow Roll Cleveland’s free, leisurely paced, 10-mile rides through neighborhoods east and west every Monday during the summer. Find the schedule and meeting points at slowrollcleveland.com Credit: Scene ArchivesHappy Dog
5801 Detroit Rd., Cleveland
Happy Dog is the perfect Cleveland bar – the food is reasonable and good and most weekend nights there’s live music and shows are usually free or cost just five bucks to get in. If you haven’t been to this institution, go next time you have a chance. (Open till midnight Sunday, through Thursday, 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday)
Photo via Scene Archives Credit: Scene ArchivesExplore Our Public Art
Cleveland’s blessed with a wealth of public art and public spaces, most of which you’ve either never seen or enjoyed without the benefit of knowing the full history and context. Thanks to LAND Studio’s new app, The City is Our Museum, you can now take self-guided tours through many of Cleveland’s neighborhoods to catch all the free public art the city has to offer. Download the app from the Apple Store or Google Play and immerse yourself in the beauty of Cleveland this summer. Credit: Scene ArchivesThe Cleveland Shakespeare Festival
Now in its 25th year, the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival returns with free, outdoor summer performances of Hamlet (June 24- July 10) and The Learned Ladies (July 22 – August 7) in venues all around town. Routinely voted as one of the best outdoors experiences in Cleveland in Scene’s Best of Cleveland poll, catching the bard under the stars is one of the best ways to enjoy a summer night. Find the complete tour schedule at cleveshakes.com. Credit: Scene ArchivesFRONT Triennial
The second iteration of the FRONT International: Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art returns this summer with dozens of free installations, performances and public programs from more than 75 international artists. ‘Oh, Gods of Dust and Rainbows’ promises to be bigger and better than the inaugural exhibition and runs July 16 through October 2 all across Cleveland, Akron and Oberlin. Find out more at frontart.org Credit: Emanuel WallaceKenmore First Fridays
Kenmore First Fridays in the historic Kenmore Boulevard district in Akron kick off on June 3 with monthly events featuring live music, food trucks, vendors, family activities and a rotating cast of local breweries. The free events run through September 2. Credit: Scene ArchivesCleveland Public Theatre
If shows at Playhouse Square are out of your reach, you can still catch dynamite theater whatever your budget at Cleveland Public Theatre, which last year expanded its pay-what-you-want policy to include all tickets to all shows. The city’s home for original and experimental works did so in the belief that art is essential and it thus must be economically accessible. Find CPT’s full schedule cptonline.org and buy your tickets there or by calling the box office. Credit: Scene ArchivesLock 3
Lock 3 down in Akron hosts a variety of concert series throughout the summer, including Rock the Lock cover band shows most Fridays, Live and Local which will feature local and regional acts from July through September, Gospel Sundays, and additional Saturday night shows. Admission is free to most shows. Find the full schedule at lock3live.com Credit: Scene ArchivesMentor Rocks
The free Mentor Rocks concert series returns in 2022 with a full slate of concerts at the Mentor Civic Amphitheater. Along with the usual slate of all the cover bands channeling nostalgia and playing the hits, headliners Everclear, Fastball and Parmalee will stop by town. The series runs Tuesday evenings June 7 through August 30 from 7 to 9 p.m Credit: Scene ArchivesCatch A Minor League Game
Check out the future stars of the Cleveland Guardians for a fraction of the ticket and concession prices at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario by heading down to Akron for a Rubber Ducks game (cheapest ticket: $5) or Lake County for the Captains ($8). Not only will you sit up close and personal to the action, both teams’ schedules are filled with promotional nights and giveaways sure to make even the most disinterested baseball fan have fun Credit: Scene ArchivesSwim at a Public Pool
For those of us not lucky enough to have a friend with a pool, the region’s public swimming offerings are the next best thing. There are, of course, Cleveland’s public pools, but with erratic openings based on temperatures and staffing, they are hardly worth counting on. Luckily, you can snag a guest day pass in many suburbs where the water is warm and the beach chairs bountiful: Dragga Pool in Mayfield Heights will run you $10 as a non-resident, Walter’s Grove in Parma will cost you just $6, Parma Heights’ primo pool awaits for $8, Foster and Becks Pools in Lakewood will let you in for $5.50, and Beachwood’s absolutely stunning outdoor aquatic center will refresh and entertain you for $10. Credit: Scene ArchivesRockin’ On The River
Out east in Lorain, Rockin’ on the River brings a roster of Bruce Springsteen, Queen, Fleetwood Mac and Led Zeppelin cover bands, plus many more, to Black River Landing in what’s one of the most popular and longest-running outdoor concert series in the area. Admission is just $7 when the gates open at 5:30. Check out the full schedule, with weekly dates from late May through early September. Credit: Scene ArchivesWaterloo Arts District Concerts
With support from the Ohio Arts Council and Cuyahoga Arts and Culture,
the ClevelandRocks:Past Present Future series will ultimately showcase 25 local musical artists/groups in the Waterloo Arts District of North Collinwood. Every show is free to the public and will take place on the first Friday and third Saturday in multiple performance spaces on Waterloo, including the Beachland Ballroom, the Tower Stage (at the NorthEast corner of E. 156th St. and Waterloo Rd.) and the Windmill Stage (at the NorthWest corner of E. 156th and Waterloo Rd.). Credit: Scene ArchivesRoller Skating
With support from the Ohio Arts Council and Cuyahoga Arts and Culture,
the ClevelandRocks:Past Present Future series will ultimately showcase 25 local musical artists/groups in the Waterloo Arts District of North Collinwood. Every show is free to the public and will take place on the first Friday and third Saturday in multiple performance spaces on Waterloo, including the Beachland Ballroom, the Tower Stage (at the NorthEast corner of E. 156th St. and Waterloo Rd.) and the Windmill Stage (at the NorthWest corner of E. 156th and Waterloo Rd.).
